How to Make Holiday Luminaries
Luminaries are little candle lanterns made from small paper bags that line a walkway or driveway. In the Southwest, it's traditional to use brown paper bags at Christmastime; here we make colorful luminaries that will give your home that special holiday glow.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Measuring Tapes
- Sand
- Votive Candles
- Measuring Cups
- Paper Bags
- Lighters
- Paper bags
- Measuring cups
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1
Determine where you want your luminaries to be located.
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2
Measure the length of the area, and multiply by two, as you will need luminaries on both sides of the path.
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3
Determine how many paper bags you will need. Luminaries are usually spaced between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the length of the area to be decorated and the desired look.
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4
Purchase an equal number of green and red lunch-size paper bags. These are available at most craft and paper stores and range in price from about 15 cents to 35 cents each.
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5
Purchase a small votive candle for each paper bag.
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6
Purchase sand to weigh down the bags. Each bag should have about a 2-inch base of sand - about 2 c. for lunch-size bags.
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7
Fill each bag with about 2 c. sand, and place the bags along the pathway to be decorated, alternating the green and red bags.
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8
Twist a votive candle into the sand in the middle of the bag, making sure it's secure.
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9
As dusk falls, light each candle for a striking holiday glow.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Some craft experts recommend placing the candles in glass holders inside the bag, although this is not necessary.
Burning approximately 4 hours each evening, each votive candle will last about 4 days.
Regular brown lunch bags can be spray-painted green and red if you can't find the colored bags at your craft or paper store.
Some craft stores sell plastic and ceramic luminaries, if you're looking for something a little more permanent.
Practice fire safety. Don't place luminaries in areas where they could spread fire if accidentally knocked over.
Luminaries are best used in dry areas of the country. Exposure to snow or rain will destroy the bags - and their glowing effect.
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Comments
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I use the battery operated votive candles for safety. You can buy these at Dollar stores these days.
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Dena Jorris
Dec 24, 2010
lu·mi·nary noun \'lü-m?-?ner-e\ plural lu·mi·nar·ies Definition of LUMINARY 1: a person of prominence or brilliant achievement 2: a body that gives light; especially : one of the celestial bodies Examples of LUMINARY luminaries of the art world awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky Origin of LUMINARY Middle English luminarye, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French luminaire light, luminary, from Late Latin luminaria, plural of luminare lamp, heavenly body, from Latin, window, from lumin-, lumen light; akin to Latin lucere to shine more at light First Known Use: 15th century Related to LUMINARY Synonyms: star, sphere, sun Antonyms: nobody, noncelebrity Next Word in the Dictionary: luminesce Previous Word in the Dictionary: luminaria All Words Near: luminary -
anonnymouse
Oct 01, 2010
Psst. It's "luminaire." A luminary is something completely different, defined as "a person of prominence or brilliant achievement." I don't think it's necessary that brilliant people only be used in dry areas of the country, do you?
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Aug 08, 2006
I was in a rush to make luminaries on Saint Patrick's day to decorate where I was to propose to my wife, and finding sand in our town wasn't easy. But we had plenty of kitty litter! So instead, I filled all the bags using kitty litter and a very handy litter scoop- it worked just as well as sand ever would, and probably smelled nicer too (though I never really took the time to notice- I was busy proposing). Litter, simple candles, and brown lunch bags were a beautiful effect by the lake- and neighbors all around asked later if it was an Irish tradition of ours!
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Aug 08, 2006
I was in a rush to make luminaries on Saint Patrick's day to decorate where I was to propose to my wife, and finding sand in our town wasn't easy. But we had plenty of kitty litter! So instead, I filled all the bags using kitty litter and a very handy litter scoop- it worked just as well as sand ever would, and probably smelled nicer too (though I never really took the time to notice- I was busy proposing). Litter, simple candles, and brown lunch bags were a beautiful effect by the lake- and neighbors all around asked later if it was an Irish tradition of ours!
